Side bar cylinder lock assembly



Oct. 3, 1961 R. c. SPAIN' SIDE BAR CYLINDER LOCK ASSEMBLY .u s 6 M w a 42 M w m 3 5 2 m o m i s 7 a C T 9 4 5 T m 9. Y A s S 7 c 3 5 2 s o 4 L o4 a A 2 g 2 2 H a 0 4 (Q mw w r I O w a l c I" a M a 2 d z .m m w n Oct.3, 1961 R. c. SPAIN 3,002,268-

SIDE BAR CYLINDER LOCK ASSEMBLY Filed Dec. 18, 1956 5 Sheets-Sheet 2INVENTOR. "Zo C. SPA1M AT'TOQNEYS Oct. 3, 1961 R. c. SPAIN SIDE BARCYLINDER LOCK ASSEMBLY 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Dec. 18, 1956 m m m w.

'EoY .C. SPAN ATTO2MEY$ 3,682,268 Patented Oct. 3, 1961 nice v 3,002,268SIDE BAR CYLINDER LOCK ASSEMBLY Roy C. Spain, Roanoke, Va., assignor toThe Yale & Towne Manufacturing Company, Stamford, Conn., a corporationof Connecticut Filed Dec. 18, 1956, Ser. No. 629,112 9 Claims. (Cl.29-428) This invention relates to locks of the type having a key plugthat is assembled in a cylinder, with a fence or side bar mounted tomove laterally in the key plug so as to move relatively to a lockingposition in a recess in the :lock cylinder.

A main object of the invention is to provide a novel and improvedcylinder lock assembly which is simple -1n construction, which is easyto assemble, and which is especially suitable for mass productiontechniques wherein the lock may be assembled with its associatedequipment in a convenient and eflicient manner and may be fitted to thebittings of a key, whereby a plurality of locks may be fitted to thesame key and will be thereafter operated by said key.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved cylinderlock assembly of the side bar type which involves inexpensivecomponents, which is resistant to any unauthorized attempts to defeatthe lock, and which is inexpensive to manufacture.

A still further object of the invention is to provide an improvedcylinder lock of the side bar type which employs identical tumblers,whereby'the lock is especially suitable for mass production techniques,and which is so arranged that a number of locksmay very easily beequipped for operation by the same key. To do that,

'I utilize for the lock a fence having portions that are employing aplurality of identical tumblers which are displaced by amounts that aredetermined by the bittings of a key inserted in the lock, the lock beingprovided with a fence member having notches therein adapted to receivecorresponding lugs on the fence member when the lugs are aligned withthe notches, whereby the fence member will be released and will allowthe keyplug to rotate, the assembly being relatively compact, involvinginexpensive components, and providing a high degree of security. 7 r Astill further object of the invention is to provide an improved fencemember for a cylinder lock of the side bar type and an improved methodand apparatus for forming said fencemember, the configuration of thefence member being determined by the key which it is desired to employin association therewith, whereby a plurality of locks may be readilyadapted for use by the same key, as is desirable for example, inautomobiles and similar equipment.

Further objects and advantages of the inventionwill become apparent fromthe following description and claims, and from the accompanyingdrawings, wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view, with a part broken away, of an improvedcylinder lock constructed-in accordance with the present invention, andshown with its associated key. 7 1

FIGURE 2 is a Verticallongitudinal cross sectional view taken on theline 22 of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is a transverse vertical cross sectional view taken on the line33 of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 4 is a longitudinal vertical cross sectional view taken on theline 4-4 of FIGURE 3.

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged cross sectional detail view taken on the line 55of FIGURE 3.

FIGURE 6 is a transverse vertical cross sectional view, similar toFIGURE 3, but showing the fence member in its released position and thekey plug rotated from the position shown in FIGURE 3.

FIGURE 7 is a perspective view showing the parts of the key plugassembly of the cylinder lock of FIG- URE 1, said parts being somewhatenlarged in scale as compared with FIGURE 1 and being shown in separatedpositions. I V V FIGURE 8 is a perspective view showing an apparatus'for forming the fence" member of the lock of FIGURES l to 7. 7

FIGURE 9 is a fragmentary horizontal cross sectional view taken on theline 99 of FIGURE 8.

FIGURE 10is an enlarged perspective view of one of the transverselyslidable bottom die elements employed in the apparatus of FIGURES 8 and9.

FIGURE 11 is a transverse cross sectional view, somewhat enlarged in ascale, taken on the line 11-11 of 'FIGURE 8.

FIGURE 12 is a bottom perspective view of a blank for -a fence member,enlarged in scale, as compared with removal from the forming apparatusof FIGURE 8 and after completion of the final step .of formation ofsame.

Referring to the drawings, and more particularly to FIGURES l to 7, 15generally designates a cylinder lock provided with a cylinder 16 havinga bore17 formed with a longitudinal locking recess 18. Designated at 19is a .key plug which is rotatably mounted in the bore' 17 and which isformed with a longitudinal keyway 20.

As is clearly shown in FIGURES 2, 4 and 7, the key plug 19 is formed atits forward end with an enlarged head portion 21 which is covered by acircular scalp 22 having a peripheral channel 23 receiving the head por--tion'21' and covering the forward surface thereof. The scalp 22 isformed with a'keyhole 24 registering with the keyway 20.

The head portion 21 of the key plug and the peripheral channel portion23of the scalp22 are rotatably received in an enlarged annular recess 26formed at the forward end of and being concentric with the bore 17of:cylinder 16. r

The key plug 19} is formed at its rear end with a stud v27, preferablyofnon-circular shape, over which is en gaged an arm 28 having an openingshaped to receive the stud 27, the arm being retained on the stud by awasher 29 substantially larger in area than the stud and secured thereonby a fastening screw 30, as is clearly shown in FIGURE 4. I r I The arm23 rotates with the key plug 19 and may be associated with anyconventional mechanism, for example,

a door bolt-retracting mechanism, which may be actuated byrotating thekey plug 19withthe proper key inserted therein. The fence member 32 isof substantial length and is formed at its opposite ends with therespective guide grooves 33 and 34 which are slidably engaged withrespective guide ribs 35 and 36 formed in the ends of the laterallyopening slot '31, as is clearly shown in FIGURE 7. The outer portion ofthe fence member 32 is formed with longitudinal grooves'35a and 36aabove and below, as'shown in FIGURE 7, defining a generallydovetailshaped longitudinal outer rib 37 which is movable to lockingposition in the locking recess 18 of the lock cylinder 16, as shown inFIGURE 3.

The locking rib 37 is formed at its outer surface with the longitudinalgroove 38, and engaging in said groove is a rod-like spring member 39.The spring member 39 has one end thereof slidably received in a bore 40formed in the forward end portion of the keyplug 19 and partiallypositioned in a longitudinal groove 41 at said forward end behind thehead portion 21, as shown in FIGURE 7, the rear end of the rod-likespring member 39 being secured in a recess 42 formed in the rear endportion of ,keyplug 19 at the rib 36, as is clearly shown in FIGURE 7.The recess 42 comprises a cylindrical bore having a longitudinal slot 44opening at the outer surface of keyplug 19, the lips of said slot beingdeformed inwardly to rigidly secure the rear end of the spring member 39to the plug 19 at that point.

The spring rod 39 is formed at its intermediate portion with an inwardlydirected loop 39' which is seated in a recess 40' formed in theintermediate portion of the floor of the groove 38. Spring rod 39normally tends to assume a configuration wherein it is substantiallystraight, except for the loop 3-9, thus biasing the fence member 32 awayfrom locking position and tending to retract the rib 37 inwardly fromthe locking recess 18.

The fence member 32 is vertically indented at its inner surface, asshown at 45, to define the longitudinally spaced, parallel vertical ribs46, said ribs being located in equally spaced transverse vertical planesperpendicular to the longitudinal vertical plane of the key-receivingrecess 20.

Each rib 46 is formed with a plurality of spaced dummy notches 47 ofrelatively shallow depth and with a main, V-shaped notch 48 ofsubstantial depth.

Designated at 49 are a plurality of identical tumblers which areslidably mounted in the keyplug 19 respectively in the transversevertical planes of the ribs 46 in respective vertical grooved recesses50 formed in the cylinder 19.

The vertical recesses 50 communicate with the longitudinally extendingkeyway 20, and the tumblers are formed with respective identicalshoulder elements 51 engageable with a bitted edge 52 of a key 25inserted in the recess 20, whereby the tumblers 49 will be verticallypositioned in accordance with the configuration of said bitted edge 52.The tumblers 49 are biased downwardly, as viewed in FIGURE 7, byrespective coiled springs 53 positioned in respective vertical recesses54 formed in the keyplug 19 at the intermediate portions of the verticaltumbler recesses 50, the top portions of the tumblers being formed withrectangular notches 55 receiving the lower end portions of the spring53. A longitudinally extending arcuate cover plate 6 is secured on thekeyplug 19 over the tumbler recesses 50, covering same and being engagedby the top ends of the tumbler biasing spring 53, whereby the tumblers49 are biased downwardly.

'Ihe tumblers are formed with stop shoulders 57 engageable with the doorof the key-receiving recess to limit downward movement of the tumblers,the lower end portions of said tumblers being slidably received in therelatively narrow lower portions 58 of the respective tumbler recesses50, as is clearly shown in FIGURE 3.

Each tumbler 49 is formed with a generally triangular lug 59 which isreceivable in a corresponding V-shaped gating 48 of the fence member 32when the tumblers have been properly aligned with the gatings 48 by theinsertion of a proper key 2 5 into the keyway 20. Normally, the tumblersprings 53 bias the tumblers to their lowermost positions, as shown inFIGURE 3, wherein the lugs 59 engage the edges of the ribs 46 andmaintain the fence member 32 in its locking position, shown in FIGURE 3,wherein the rib 37 is held in the locking recess 18 against the biasingforce of the rod-like spring 39. When a proper key 25 is inserted in thekeyway 20, the identical tumblers 49 are elevated by different amounts,depending upon the bittings 52 of key 25, said amounts being such as toraise the lugs 59 into alignment with the corresponding gatings -48 ofthe fence member, whereby the lugs 59 are allowed to enter all thegatings 48 simultaneously, releasing the fence member and allowing thespring 39 to move the fence member to release position, so that thelocking lug 37 is withdrawn from the locking recess 18. This allows thekeyplug 19 to be freely rotated by the key 25, whereby the lock may beoperated to release its associated apparatus, for example, to retract adoor bolt, or the like. Thus, as shown in FIGURE 6, when the lugs 59 areengaged in the gatings 48, the fence member 32 is retracted by therod-like spring 39, so that the keyplug 19 may be rotated freely in thebore 17.

It will be noted that all the tumblers 49 are identical and that fence32 is the only part of the lock assembly that need be particularlyshaped to correspond to a key, the fence having ribs 46 that are gatedat different locations thereon, in accordance with the bittings 52 ofthe associated key 25. By employing identical tumblers 49, the massproduction of the locks is greatly facilitated, since in the prior art,the tumblers ordinarily have parts of different configuration inaccordance with the bittings of the keyto be employed with the lock.

Obviously, if so desired, tumblers may be employed wherein the lugs 59are at different locations with respect to each other, but it isimportant to understand that my invent-ion makes this unnecessary. Thatis because my novel method, which I shall describe more fully, enables afence to be very easily formed in accordance with the bittings of a key.In other words, the fence can hold the combination of the lock, so thatthe tumblers may be identical.

Referring now to FIGURES 8 to 14, 60 generally designates an apparatusemployed to form the gatings in the fence member 32. The apparatus 60comprises a bottom supporting plate 61 on which is secured a blockmember 62 formed with a longitudinal channel 63, which may be defined byproviding a rectangular, longitudinally extending recess in the block62. Secured on the block 62 is a cover plate 64 and slidably mounted inthe channel 63 are a plurality of transversely extending bottom dieelements 65, said die elements being biased laterally toward aside wall66 of the channel 63 by respective coiled springs 67 engaged in theopposite side wall 68 of the channel 63 and having their inner endsreceived in recesses 69 formed in the respective bottom die elements 65.As shown in FIG- URE 13, the springs 67 act to bias the die elements 65to the right, and act to urge the respective edge portions 70 of therespective die elements towards engagement with the side wall 66 ofchannel 63. Block 62 is formed with a horizontal key-receiving recess 71opening into the channel 63 at the side wall 66 thereof, and each bottomdie element 65 is formed with a positioning lug 72 which is engageablein the recess 71 and which is engageable by the bitted edge 52 of a key25 inserted in the recess 71. Each bottom die element 65 is formed atits top edge with a generally triangular die projection 74 which isreceived in a longitudinal guide slot 75 formed in the cover plate 64,the cover plate being thickened to define a generally cylindrical convexrib 77 at the guide slot 75. The guide slot 75 is dimensioned to receivea fence blank, shown at 78 in FIGURE 12 and illustrated as positioned inthe guide slot 75 in FIGURE 11, preliminary to forming the fence blankto its final configuration.

Secured to the block 62 over the margin of the cover the hinge lugs 80,as by a transverse pivot pin 82. The

bracket 79 isarranged parallel'to the convex rib 77 and upstanding,parallel hinge lugs 80, 80. Designated at 81 at the same radialdistance-from pivot pin 82 as the guide slot 75 is a pressure die member83 comprising a block formed with a groove 84 having a shapecomplementary to the convex rib 77 for accepting that rib when the lever81 is rotated downwardly, for example, to the horizontal positionthereof shown in FIGURE 13. When thus positioned, the marginal surfaceportions 85, 85 at the opposite sides of the groove 84 engage thehorizontal top surface of the plate 64, acting to properly center thetop pressure die 83.

As shown in FIGURE 13, the top die member 83 is pivotally connected tothe lever 81, as by a transverse pivot bolt 76 extending through theflattened lever portion 87 and respective pivot lugs 88 provided On thetop die member 83.

In operation of the apparatus 60, a blank 78 is placed in the guide slot75 with its ribs 46 facing downwardly and engaged on the die projections74 of the bottom die elements 65. The key 25 is inserted in the recess71, whereby the feeler elements 72 of the bottom die members 65 areengaged by the bitted edge 52 of the key, causing the die members 65 tobe displaced in accordance with the key bittings. This positions the dieprojection 74 in accordance with the key contour. The top pressure diemember 83 is then moved downwardly and engaged on the convex rib 77 byrotating the lever 81 from its vertical position to its loweredposition, sufficient downward force being exerted on the lever 81 tocause the die projections 74 to indent the rib 46. When the top diemember 83 has been pressed into full contact with the plate 64, as shownin FIGURE 13, the die projections 74 engage sufficiently in the ribs 46to form the V-shaped gatings 48 therein required for the release of theassociated lock by the key 25 employed in forming the fence member.

After the fence member has been formed, as above described, the lever 81is elevated, disengaging the top die member 83 from the convex rib 77.By withdrawing the key 25, the bottom die members 65 are then displacedso as to cause their die projections 74 to cam the completed fencemember upwardly a sufficient distance so that it may be grasped andremoved from the guide slot 75.

As Will be readily apparent, a number of identical fence members may bethus quickly and efficiently formed, which is highly desirable incertain production procedures, for example, in the assembly ofautomotive locks for vehicles wherein a single key must operate aplurality of locks on the vehicle.

The fence blanks 78 are formed in any suitable manner and, for example,may be cast, pressure molded, or the like. In the formation of theblanks, the grooves 45, defining the ribs 46 therebetween may beindented in the blank simultaneously with the formation of the remainderthereof, or may be formed by an individual machining operationsubsequent to casting of the main body of the blank.

While a specific embodiment of a cylinder lock of the side bar type andmethods and apparatus for forming the fence member thereof have beendisclosed in the foregoing description, it will be understood thatvarious modifications within the spirit of the invention may occur tothose skilled in the art. Therefore, it is intended that no limitationsbe placed on the invention except as defined by the scope of theappended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. The method of making a fence for use in a tumbler lock in whichtumblers coacting with the fence are positioned by a predeterminedbitted key, comprising the steps of arranging a series of forming toolsin an order corresponding to the bittings of the key, adjusting the '6position of each forming tool in accordance with the correspondingbitting of said key, and applying said series of forming tools to thefence to form said fence.

2. The method of making afence for a lock having a series of tumblerthat are set by a particularly bitted key, with said tumblers eachformed with a part adapted to coact with the fence, comprising the stepsof arranging a series of forming tools in an order corresponding to thebittings of the particularly bitted key, adjusting the position of eachforming tool in accordance with the corresponding bitting of said key,and applying said series of forming tools to the fence to form on saidfence a series of portions for coacting one with the coacting'part ofeach tumbler.

3. The method of making a side bar for a lock having a series oftumblers that are set by a particularly bitted key, with said tumblerseach formed with an outstanding lug for coaction with a gating on theside bar, comprising the steps of arranging a series of cutting tools inan order corresponding to the bittings of the particularly bitted key,adjusting the position of each cutting tool in accordance with thecorresponding hitting of said key, and applying said series of cuttingtools to the side bar to form in said side bar a series of gatings forcoacting one with the lug of each tumbler.

4. The method of equipping a side bar lock having tumblers, with a sidebar that will be actuated through the tumblers by a particularly bittedkey, comprising the steps of arranging a series of forming tools in anorder corresponding to the bittings of the particularly bitted key,adjusting the position of each forming tool in accordance with thecorresponding bitting of said key, applying said series of forming toolsto the side bar to form a part of said side bar, and assembling saidside bar in the lock with the formed part of said side bar inpredetermined relation to the lock tumblers.

5. The method of equipping a side bar lock having tumblers, with a sidebar that will be actuated through the tumblers by a particularly bittedkey, comprising the steps of applying the bittings of a key relativelyto forming means whereby to position the forming means, applying the sopositioned forming means to a side bar to form said side bar withportions that are arranged in accordance with the key bittings, andassembling said side bar in the lock with one of its formed portions incoacting relation to each tumbler.

6. The method of making a side bar lock having tumblers and a fence thatwill be acuated through the tumblers by a particularly bitted key,comprising the steps of forming in an identical position on each tumblerof a series of tumblers a part for coacting with a fence, forming on afence a series of portions corresponding to said series of tumblers withsaid fence portions offset relatively to one another in accordance withthe bittings of a key, and assembling said fence and series of tumblersin the lock with one fence portion in coacting relation to each of saidtumbler parts.

7. The method of forming a fence for a lock of the kind having a seriesof key-actuated tumblers with each' of said tumblers set by acorresponding key hitting whereby to place that tumbler in position toaccept the fence, comprising the steps of forming the fence with aseries of portions corresponding one to each of said tumblers, andforming said portions of the fence with surfaces that are complementaryto parts of said tumblers and that are oifset relatively to one anotherin accordance with the bittings of a key.

8. The method of forming a fence for a lock of the kind having a seriesof key-actuated tumblers with each of said tumblers set by acorresponding key bitting whereby to place that tumbler in position toaccept the fence, comprising the steps of forming the fence with aseries of outstanding ribs corresponding one to each of said tumblers,and forming on said fence ribs gatings that are shaped to accept partsof the tumblers with 7 said gatings in positions that are oifsetrelatively to one another in accordance with the bittings of a key.

9. The method of forming a fence for a lock of the kind having 'a seriesof key-actuated tumblers with each of said tumblers set by acorresponding key hitting whereby to place that tumbler in position toaccept the fence, comprising the steps of forming the fence with aseries of outstanding ribs corresponding one to each of said tumblers,placing a series of dies in positions that are offset relatively to oneanother in accordance with the bittings of a key, arranging said fenceWith one fence rib in opposed relation to each die, and pressing said'fence relatively to said series of dies to indent in said ribs gatingsthat are shaped to accept parts of the tumblers.

References Cited in the fileof this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS GatesNov. 8, 1904 Ledin June 17, 1924 FitzGerald July 12, 1932 Swegles May 9,1933 Buehholt Nov. 28, 1933 Fitzgerald Dec. 17, 1935 Dallas Feb. 4, 1936FitzGerald Dec. 8, 1936 Miller Apr. 7, 1942

